June 11, 2017

I see this as a sign that the Comey testimony fizzled: The Daily Beast has a headline: "James Comey Is The Sex Symbol America Needs Right Now."

That's by Lizzie Crocker and published today. Excerpt:
And so the 56-year-old, fired FBI director became a very unlikely sex symbol. Sure, he has a somewhat peaked complexion and under-eye bags that look like half-inflated tubular balloons. But he's handsome, and as with all sex symbols--both the unlikely ones and the obvious ones--he embodies certain qualities in society that we all lust after: integrity, emotional complexity, and quiet but certain confidence.

That combined with his imposing physical stature gives him the same alluring masculinity as sex symbols like Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice (particularly Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy in the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice).

In Italy on Friday, my Daily Beast colleague Barbie Latza Nadeau reports that there was "a ten-minute segment on Italian prime time TV about whether Comey would be a good lover because of the “length of his digits.”...

[Comey's] charisma and acclaimed public behavior makes you look at him afresh. After all, Comey most definitely wasn't seen as a sex symbol when he helped torpedo Hillary Clinton's election chances just a few days before the election. The public winds of approval--the perception of heroism or doing good or speaking truth to power--must be blowing in the right direction for a moment to erupt as it did on Thursday, when suddenly all the feels were for Comey....
Well, why not? Politics is all about "the feels." Let's be honest. Henry Kissinger famously said "Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac," but Crocker's not saying that. For her, it's not power per se. The power must be exercised in proper direction. It wasn't sexy to — trigger warning — "torpedo" Hillary. But it is sexy to aim the lengthy projectile at the notoriously short-fingered Trump.

And yet, that's what you say, but what about your closely held secret thoughts, your dreams? How well I remember, back in May 2012, a woman who called herself "Violated" wrote in to the the Isthmus advice columnist:
I'm a public employee, a liberal and a volunteer for Democrat Tom Barrett in the upcoming recall election. But here's my problem: I've been having sexual dreams about Gov. Scott Walker. Help!

I should mention that I'm happily married, with an attractive husband. In my waking life, I do not consider our extreme right-wing governor physically attractive. On the contrary, I recoil from the sight of him, with his politician's haircut and blank expression. During last year's protests at the Capitol, however, I woke up one morning from a dream in which the governor and I were...well, you know. It was hot, but it was also disturbing. I took an extra-long shower that morning to wash away the sensation.

I didn't tell my husband or my friends about the dream, because I didn't want to gross them out. I also didn't want them to think less of me. But since then, I've had two more such dreams. I finally fessed up, hoping to get some advice. First, why am I having sexual dreams about someone I can't stand and don't find attractive in the slightest? And second, how can I get my brain to stop playing this horrible trick on me?
The advice columnist suggested that the woman look at pictures of Tom Barrett to try to fixate on him...



... and we had some fun with that here at Meadhouse.

142 comments:

David Begley said...

Comey? Integrity? Not quite.

MikeR said...

"Signs that the Comey testimony fizzled". ? One of those headlines that has nothing to do with the article. Does it?

Paco Wové said...

Works for me, Mike.  I believe Althouse's point is that if the testimony had been on target, we would be seeing media bloviation about that, not about Comey's alleged sexiness.

Ann Althouse said...

""Signs that the Comey testimony fizzled". ? One of those headlines that has nothing to do with the article. Does it?"

That's my headline pointing at a headline. It expresses my opinion. Feel free to disagree with it.

Ann Althouse said...

I rewrote my headline a bit to try to help you where I think you might have been confused.

rhhardin said...

It's the women's vote problem.

rhhardin said...

Fizzled and come-y and leaking.

Lot of wet spots on those sheets.

Kevin said...

Comey's testimony was not the release many expected.

Laslo Spatula said...

Memo from James Comey (excerpts)...

Yes, I felt pressured. I will leave to lawyers to determine if the pressure constituted a legal infraction, but: pressure...

The woman in question sent away the other people from the room, leaving us alone, which was uncomfortable but not pressure...

She proceeded to inform me of her lust for my integrity and quiet but certain confidence. Being that these were, and are, statements of fact, I chose not to disagree...

She then looked at me intently. I interpreted this to mean she was undressing me with her eyes, but she cleverly said nothing to keep plausible deniability...

At this point I began to feel the pressure. I interpreted her invitation to a glass of water as sexual: I admit it, I should have spoken up at this point...

Then she proceeded to pull down my pants and suck my cock, mentally: again, I will leave this to lawyers to determine the status of unwanted mental cock-sucking...

Needless to say, I have read memos like this before, but I never thought it would happen to me...

I am Laslo.

Kevin said...

How bad was it? Comey headlines are about the size of his book deal.

https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/politics/2017/06/09/james-comey-could-snag-10m-deal-tell-all-book/102687024/

Anonymous said...

The size of your fizzle is in the eye of the beholder. There was actually no fizzle what so ever. The investigation is sizzling.

traditionalguy said...

Comey probably leaks before he shoots.

But he has most of the FBI guys snowed by his act of being too dumb to betray the FBI. Government employees live in
the epitome of a safe space. They really fall for the weird idea that protecting the FBI at any cost is virtuous.

Clyde said...

You can't get much more phallic than a torpedo. If he can sink Hillary with his pink torpedo, he could do the same for you, girls.

readering said...

Must have fizzled 'cause POTUS on twitter now calling him "very cowardly."

robother said...

Mark Felt is to Deep Throat as James Comey is to...?

John Brennan hires a Brit M15 guy (false ID name of Steele of course) to confect a lurid tale of Trump's golden showers with Russian prostitutes in the Obamas' bridal suite.

Its lonely at the top of DC's gray bureaucracies.


Anonymous said...

"Must have fizzled 'cause POTUS on twitter now calling him "very cowardly"

LOL, the size of Trump's tweeting digits must be huge and swollen from overuse, but keep it up, we love it.

Anonymous said...

Jesus,these women. In Clown World, every section is now the "women's section".

Remember when feminists used to complain about the "women's section"? Feminism was necessary because talented women got stuck writing fluff for the "women's section", and only men would get assigned the serious, objective journalism, went the argument...

Ken B said...

For decades now I have heard complaints about how J Edgar Hoover used his file corruptly, how his use of the FBI was offensive. Every one of those complaints is a demand that the FBI not be free from political oversight and control. How would people react if they learned LBJ asked Hoover to lay off about King, who is a good guy?

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

I don't understand the 'fizzled'. Comey got exactly what he wanted - a special counsel focused on TrumpWorld.

Humperdink said...

As I recall, one of Comey's alleged Trump lies (paraphrasing) was the Comey's leadership sucked and the FBI was in disarray. Upon hearing Comey's comments about Low-retta Lynch, sounds pretty accurate to me. Taking a cue from the Big O, Comey was leading from the rear .... er ..... behind.

Earnest Prole said...

James Comey is a nothingburger.

Humperdink said...

ARM said: "I don't understand the 'fizzled'. Comey got exactly what he wanted - a special counsel focused on TrumpWorld."

And his plan was to leak to accomplish it.

Birkel said...

@ ARM

So you agree it was a political hit job, recognized by you and one assumes everybody watching. And you imagine that was successful? Wasn't the point of Comey's testimony to look apolitical to maximize support for Comey's position with the small group of persuadable people?

If so, you may want to reconsider the word 'exactly' to something more careful like 'some'.

Humperdink said...

It would make my day to see a special prosecutor appointed to investigate Lynch and Comey's behavior regarding the handling of the Clintstone "matter".

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

It seems that at least one of those Arts degrees didn't go entirely to waste:

Vanity Fair Hive said...
“the origami-coiffed, Wharton transfer student who talks about hookers with F.B.I. directors and now intends to overlord a putative chain of three-star hotels from the West Wing.”

Bob Boyd said...

robother said...
Mark Felt is to Deep Throat as James Comey is to...?

Deep digit?

Michael K said...

"The investigation is sizzling."

Poor Inga. Trouble with digits again. First digits, I mean. Well, actually letters, like "f" and "s."

Fernandinande said...

I'm a public employee, a liberal and ... I thought I found a clever way to say bad things about Scott Walker but I was wrong, it wasn't clever at all. Help!

Humperdink said...

Inga said: ""Must have fizzled 'cause POTUS on twitter now calling him "very cowardly"

You conveniently left out the rest of the tweet: ""I believe the James Comey leaks will be far more prevalent than anyone ever thought possible. Totally illegal? Very 'cowardly!'

Hmm, sort of changes things a bit, does it not?

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Not fizzling -

Maureen Down said...
The Senate hearing on Trump’s White House nest of vipers drew nearly 20 million viewers — more than the N.B.A. finals. People started lining up to see the hearing in person at 4 a.m.


I only watched the NBA finals, at least parts of them. When their threes are falling the Warriors are the most unstoppable team I have ever seen. Can highly recommend watching the game on Monday night.

Bob Boyd said...

The lock upon my garden gate's a snail, that's what it is
First Jim Comey's sexy, then he is not sexy, then he is

Anonymous said...

A sign for me that the Mueller investigation is sizzling. On Saturday, Sessions abruptly canceled his testimony in front of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees for Tuesday.

"COMEY: Our judgment, as I recall, is that he was very close to and inevitably going to recuse himself for a variety of reasons. We also were aware of facts that I can’t discuss in an opening setting that would make his continued engagement in a Russia-related investigation problematic. So we were convinced — in fact, I think we’d already heard the career people were recommending that he recuse himself, that he was not going to be in contact with Russia-related matters much longer. That turned out to be the case.

WYDEN: How would you characterize Attorney General Sessions’s adherence to his recusal? In particular, with regard to his involvement in your firing, which the president has acknowledged was because of the Russian investigation.

COMEY: That’s a question I can’t answer. I think it is a reasonable question. If, as the president said, I was fired because of the Russia investigation, why was the attorney general involved in that chain? I don’t know. So I don’t have an answer for the question."

Matt Sablan said...

So, since Comey doesn't understand that he was fired for a myriad of reasons, the rest of us should just assume he was only fired for the one reason?

Also, Wyden is wrong. Comey was fired for lots of reasons, his refusal to handle the Russia investigation professionally and leaking about it, as we've now seen, is just one of many.

William said...

James Comey described himself as possibly a coward. I guess that speaks to his honesty if not to his courage. Shouldn't an FBI director have unquestionable courage? Comey also said some things damaging to Lynch. The net effect is that you get the impression that he's an honest man. You also get the impression that his prickly conscience is pricklier when he's around Republicans rather than Dems and that his conscience is at its prickliest when he's around Donald Trump........He has, at different times, caught flack from Dems and Reublicans. Maybe he's even handed or maybe he's bidextrously clumsy.

Ann Althouse said...

"I don't understand the 'fizzled'. Comey got exactly what he wanted - a special counsel focused on TrumpWorld."

I said the Comey testimony fizzled.

The special counsel was appointed before the testimony. The testimony was supposed to be a big advancement in the Destroy Trump bandwagon. That sure didn't happen.

Humperdink said...

Inga said: "A sign for me that the Mueller investigation is sizzling. On Saturday, Sessions abruptly canceled his testimony in front of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees for Tuesday."

And how do you know this is the reason? Because Comey leaked again? Or just because you're wishin' and hopin'?

Anonymous said...

We all heard the interview with Lester Holt in which Trump says that when he fired Comey he was thinking about the Russia Investigation. Plus he told the Russians in the Oval Office that he fired Comey and now it's lifted the great pressure on him. You people can keep deluding yourselves though, it's interesting in a train wreck sort of way.

Matt Sablan said...

Also, what was Comey's *goal* with the testimony?

To tell people he thought Trump was a liar? Everyone knew that.

To say Trump was obstructing the investigation? If he makes that claim, then he perjured himself weeks ago when he said Trump didn't do that. And few people give testimony in the hopes of being caught in a perjury trap.

Was it to confirm that Trump had been told three times he was under investigation, despite Comey's patsy who leaked to the press swearing that wasn't true? Very few people give testimony to undermine their own leaks.

What, exactly, was Comey's goal?

Comanche Voter said...

Everything in proportion sweetcakes to the lady who sees Comey as a "sex symbool". And speaking of "everything in proportion", the man is 6 feet 8 inches tall.

Matt Sablan said...

Inga: Is that the same Lester Holt interview where Trump said he was supporting the Russia investigation -- something Comey and McCabe both agreed with? The Lester Holt interview that NBC/MSNBC characterizes like this:

"The president reiterated his claim that he had been planning to fire Comey even before he received Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's recommendation to do so.

"He's a showboat, he's grandstander, the FBI has been in turmoil," Trump said of Comey in his wide-ranging interview with Holt. "You know that, I know that. Everybody knows that. You take a look at the FBI a year ago, it was in virtual turmoil, less than a year ago. It hasn't recovered from that."

Holt asked Trump if he was "angry with Mr. Comey because of his Russia investigation."

"I just want somebody that's competent," Trump responded. "I am a big fan of the FBI, I love the FBI."

Trump said he never tried to pressure Comey into dropping the FBI probe of the Trump campaign and insisted, "I want to find out if there was a problem in the election having to do with Russia.""

Why are you lying to us about what Trump said about Comey?

Matt Sablan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Humperdink said...

“What makes it egregious is the fact — and I think it’s obvious that it is a fact — that the attorney general of the United States was adjusting the way the department talked about its business so as to coincide with the way the Clinton campaign talked about that business,” Michael Mukasey said in an interview.

And was the AG? Low-retta Lynch. And who was her subordinate? Non other than the current sex-symbol, hero of the commie-pinko left, James Comey.

http://dailycaller.com/2017/06/09/bush-ag-lynch-betrayal-made-doj-an-arm-of-the-clinton-campaign/?utm_source=site-share

Matt Sablan said...

Somehow this:

"As far as I'm concerned, I want that thing to be absolutely done properly," Trump said. "Maybe I'll expand that, you know, lengthen the time (of the Russia probe) because it should be over with, in my opinion, should have been over with a long time ago. 'Cause all it is, is an excuse but I said to myself, I might even lengthen out the investigation, but I have to do the right thing for the American people."

Trump added of the investigation, "I want that to be so strong and so good. And I want it to happen."

Asked by Holt if by firing Comey he was trying to send a "lay off" message to his successor, Trump said, "I'm not."

"If Russia did anything, I want to know that," he said.

-- Turned into Inga thinking that Trump fired Comey to stop the Russia investigation. So, Inga, did you just not go to the primary/secondary sources? Did someone lie to you about what was said, and you repeated it because you didn't know better, or did you lie to us thinking we wouldn't look it up?

Anonymous said...

"Trump told NBC's Lester Holt: "And in fact when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said 'you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story, it's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won'.""

holdfast said...

A story by Lizzie references a column by Barbie. How cute.

And we're somehow supposed to take seriously the crayon scribblings of these children. The little girls in my son's kindergarten class use more serious-sounding names.

Anonymous said...

Matthew, do you think I wouldn't put Trump's direct quote here?

Rusty said...

Inga.
I don't think this is going the way you think it is at all. I think what we are going to find out is more interference by the deep state in the publics affairs.
Your fear of Trump has become and obsession.

Matt Sablan said...

Ah. Ok. So you got a pull quote and didn't read/listen to the whole interview for the context. It's OK, just be thorough next time and don't get caught by fake news.

chickelit said...

Comey has all the sex charisma of a set of drapes.

mockturtle said...

Laslo @ 7:29: Brilliant!


Matt Sablan said...

That direct quote is Trump explaining there was never a good time to fire Comey, and that between the recommendation and Comey's continual failures in handling various investigations, he decided to just do it -- one of those failed investigations is the Russia Probe, which Trump wanted done quickly and efficiently, and which we now know Comey was not doing like that, and was actively undermining by leaking to the press.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Ann Althouse said...
I said the Comey testimony fizzled.


To believe this you also have to believe that having the recently fired Director of the FBI repeatedly calling the president a liar on must-see-TV is of no consequence. This view may not perfectly reflect the views of the broader public.

"Those were lies plain and simple.”

“It’s my judgment that I was fired because of the Russia investigation. I was fired, in some way, to change — or the endeavor was to change the way the Russia investigation was being conducted.”

"So it confused me when I saw on television the president saying that he actually fired me because of the Russia investigation, and learned again from the media that he was telling privately other parties that my firing had relieved great pressure on the Russian investigation. I was also confused by the initial explanation that was offered publicly that I was fired because of the decisions I had made during the election year. That didn't make sense to me for a whole bunch of reasons, including the time and all the water that had gone under the bridge since those hard decisions that had to be made. That didn't make any sense to me."

"The subject matter I was talking about, matters that touch on the FBI’s core responsibility, and that relate to the president — the president-elect personally — and then the nature of the person. I was honestly concerned he might lie about the nature of our meeting, so I thought it important to document. That combination of things I had never experienced before, but had led me to believe I got to write it down and write it down in a very detailed way."

"King: In his press conference May 18th, the president responded, quote, “No, no,” when asked about asking you to stop the investigation into general Flynn. Is that an accurate statement?
Comey: I don't believe it is."

"King: That’s one question I’m not going to follow up on, Mr. Comey. In that same interview, the president said, in one case I called him and in one case, he called me. Is that an accurate statement?
Comey: No."

Matt Sablan said...

Look, I agree Trump is not the best human being. He does a lot of stuff I disagree with, but now that we've seen Comey's full character on display, firing him was the right move. You can have an asshole for a boss, but that boss can still sometimes make the right decision. Comey had to go, especially as he is willing to actively undermine investigations to score political points against the President.

Anonymous said...

Nice try at explaining what Trump was trying to say, Matthew, but you fail. Trump has a habit of leaking... on himself.

mockturtle said...

he embodies certain qualities in society that we all lust after: integrity, emotional complexity, and quiet but certain confidence.

Comey is weak-willed, indecisive and an emotional basket case. Nothing I would lust after.

Matt Sablan said...

ARM: Everyone who casually followed the Comey thing knew Comey thought Trump was a liar; the most interesting part of the lying liar party is that Comey had to admit that, uh, Trump DIDN'T lie about being told he was not being investigated, exactly three times, just as he said.

Which is awkward for Comey, since he sent out his friend to leak to the press and tell the press there was no way Comey would do that.

What sort of asshole gets you to lie for them, then publicly tells everyone that he duped you?

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Matthew Sablan said...
To tell people he thought Trump was a liar? Everyone knew that.


Not sure this is helping either Trump or Althouse's argument.

Chris N said...

Inga demonstrates why progressivism is so unappealing to me:

1. She's put her hopes into political outcomes and in/out group political identity politics (Trump is not only the evil Person standing up to progressive causes, he seems to enjoy the fight...therefore something must happen NOW because political POWER can't be lost...oh yeah all this other people just want power)
2. She constantly focuses on people over arguments.
3. Whatever truth she may have to say is quickly lost in a stream of ad hominem attacks, insults, and appeals to authority to fix the mess she's usually instrumental in creating. This kind of righteous hero/helpless victim complex tends to be encouraged within activist circles. The personal is political.

I don't care about your righteous cause du jour unless you give me good reasons and evidence as to why it's true. What particular injustice should be addressed and what costs/benefits could you proposed remedy have? If you can't do that, and can't hold a civil conservation.

Kindly fuck off...


Matt Sablan said...

Inga: That's a nonsense statement that tells me you don't understand how classification works.

Matt Sablan said...

"Not sure this is helping either Trump or Althouse's argument."

-- The point is, Comey gains nothing by saying that. If that was the goal, then he actually hurt that point, since one of the big lies, that the nation has been told Trump was lying about for weeks, turned out... to not be a lie, and that it was in fact, the truth. And that Comey knew it was the truth but let us all believe Trump was lying for weeks because it helped Comey.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

"Turned into Inga thinking that Trump fired Comey to stop the Russia investigation. So, Inga, did you just not go to the primary/secondary sources? Did someone lie to you about what was said, and you repeated it because you didn't know better, or did you lie to us thinking we wouldn't look it up?"

Probably both. Also, Inga lies because she can't just bear to think it's a nothingburger an a waste of time. She is all about her feeeeeelz, and is far too emotionally connected to this to give up it up.

As I said the other day, my grandma had the same connection about "As the World Turns" although grandma had the advantage in that at bottom she understood her fantasies weren't real.

Inga bitterly clings to the same sources that have been lying to her all along.

Anonymous said...

Comey's character compared to Trump's, lol. Trump has no character if not bad character and through.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

Inga , since you called Reality Winner, a disgusting traitor who admires Iran and the Taliban, a patriot, I think it's safe to say you're a terrible judge of character.

It is a good thing for you Ted Bundy is no longer alive and roaming the earth. Given your track record, you'd take an immediate shine to him and invite him home for dinner.

Original Mike said...

""Trump told NBC's Lester Holt: "And in fact when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said 'you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story, it's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won'."

Trump is right.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Ann Althouse said...
I said the Comey testimony fizzled.


But this ignores that the testimony was an inevitable part of Comey's larger game plan, but not an essential part. That plan, to get a special counsel, worked perfectly. The testimony was a pawn move, not the potential checkmate that the special counsel represents.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Matthew Sablan said...
especially as he is willing to actively undermine investigations to score political points against the President.


What is the proof for this?

chickelit said...

Comey's character compared to Trump's, lol. Trump has no character if not bad character and through.

But you're supposed to dig the bad boys, Inga. Quit fighting the urge. Lie back and think of Ingaland.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

Original Mike said...
""Trump told NBC's Lester Holt: "And in fact when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said 'you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story, it's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won'."

It says as much in the book, "Shattered," doesn't it? And that book was not written by "Trumpists."


"The suspicion that the Obama/Clinton gang had a hand in fabricating a nefarious connection between the Russians and the Trump transition team, was almost a given. However not even the most cynical among us would have believed that within 24-hours after the historical seismic election that the Clinton's were already plotting to undermine the election.

The blistering behind-the-scenes account by authors Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, in their blockbuster tell-all book “Shattered: Inside Hillary Clinton’s Doomed Campaign”, uncovers the seamy underbelly of politics and in particular the sordid political world of the Clinton's.

The book exposes how the Clinton's manipulated and used her email scandals as a wedge issue blaming her bruising defeat on both the FBI investigation and on Russian meddling “within twenty-four hours of her concession speech.”

“I’m angry,” Hillary told her friend and exhausted. After two brutal campaigns against Sanders and Trump, Hillary now had to explain the failure to friends in a seemingly endless round of phone calls. That was taking a toll on her already weary and grief-stricken soul. But mostly, she was mad— mad that she’d lost and that the country would have to endure a Trump presidency.”

The book chronicles Hillary’s attempted to blame both “Comey and Russia” for her stunning loss.

The authors detail how Clinton went out of her way to pass blame for her stunning loss on “Comey and Russia.”

A longtime Clinton confidant is quoted as saying: “She wants to make sure all these narratives get spun the right way.”

The narratives were spun - and gullible fools like Inga and ARM believed them.

Rusty said...

And here is where your fear and delusion come full circle.
The vast majority of thinking people knew what trump was when he first came on the scene. his biggest political advantage was he wasn't Hillary. That got him elected. His appeal WAS his brashness and outspokeness. Not afraid to call a spade a spade.Even it if was sometimes over the top. I don't think he is inherently dishonest like Hillary or Obama.
Comey is a different story altogether. For him to effective at his job there has to be an expectation of impartiality. The impression that he is above the political fray. it turns out that he is mired in the fray and like the true passive aggressive beta male that he is he tries to make both sides happy thereby making none of them happy. he then proceeds to do the dishonest and cowardly thing to leak information to the press. I wouldn't hold his character up to anybody to emulate.

Birkel said...

@ ARM
"...potential checkmate..."

You mean that thing that exists before any pieces are moved on a chess board? I remember that one time Garry Kasparov said to a fellow before they had even sat in their chairs: "I have you in potential checkmate."

That is the weakest of weak teas. That is room temperature water with a tea bag on the counter, completely dry, on the counter beside the cup. That is potential weak tea.

readering said...

Meanwhile, Khan tweets a big success. POTUS tells PM the state visit is off. Knows where not wanted.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Birkel said...
That is the weakest of weak teas.


You see a special counsel as no big deal. You are largely alone in this. I am sure the lawyers of Trump and his associates do not agree. It is possible that Trump's administration emerges unscathed from this, and that possibility should not be ignored, but history is not in favor of that outcome.

Matt Sablan said...

"What is the proof for this?"

-- Leaking his FBI memo and lying to the press undermined the Russia investigation. As it is, with the way it has been mishandled, I'll be glad when it finally ends.

Birkel said...

@ ARM

No, and you are ridiculous for pretending that I say the special counsel might be a big deal. But the phrase "potential checkmate" is one of the lamest coinages in the history of stupid phrases.

You coined a phrase. Congratulations. It is a stupid, useless phrase that nobody will use except to mock your stupid phrase.

After pushing his pawn to D4 on the first move of the game, the chess player yelled "potential checkmate".

Anonymous said...

"That is the weakest of weak teas."
-------------
"You see a special counsel as no big deal. You are largely alone in this. I am sure the lawyers of Trump and his associates do not agree. It is possible that Trump's administration emerges unscathed from this, and that possibility should not be ignored, but history is not in favor of that outcome."
------------------

Reminds me of the knight in the Monty Python skit, The Holy Grail. Denial is strong in them.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

readering said...
Meanwhile, Khan tweets a big success. POTUS tells PM the state visit is off. Knows where not wanted."

Oh, what a big success! Too bad Khan isn't nearly as good at stopping terrorists from murdering people.

But that's not important to you.

clint said...

" Inga said...
The size of your fizzle is in the eye of the beholder. There was actually no fizzle what so ever. The investigation is sizzling."

Investigation into what?

If the president's supposed-wrongdoing (with evidence coming soon!!!) is different every week, with last week's accusation quietly tossed down the memory hole, that's really not a sign of a "sizzling" investigation.

Pretty much everyone now agrees that there was no collusion between President Trump and the Russians (or at least that there's no evidence and likely never will be). If you recall, that was the original accusation.

While that accusation has deflated, there have been repeated attempts to pump air into the scandal -- from tantalizing leaks about a secret dossier to the most recent silliness about Trump being a criminal target (and lying about it) or obstructing justice in the Flynn matter. (See what I did there?)

But each one has collapsed in the transition from insider gossip to actual facts.

So I ask again: If an investigation is sizzling... an investigation into what??

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Matthew Sablan said...
Leaking his FBI memo and lying to the press undermined the Russia investigation


Lying to the press is an overstatement. He refused to confirm publicly something that was already known to congress.

The leaked memo is the cause of the special counsel, which is obviously cannot be undermined by its existence. The house and senate investigations were not real investigations but instead partisan shows designed to keep a lid on any potential problems.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...


Reminds me of the knight in the Monty Python skit, The Holy Grail. Denial is strong in them.

6/11/17, 9:36 AM

LOL! Whatever you say, Soap Opera Woman.

Your track record has been soooooo accurate up until now!

LOLLOL!

Rusty said...

You're assuming the special prosecutor knife only cuts one way.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mockturtle said...

So I ask again: If an investigation is sizzling... an investigation into what??

Why bother? You will only get the usual tu-quoque remark.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

Clint note:

"If the president's supposed-wrongdoing (with evidence coming soon!!!) is different every week, with last week's accusation quietly tossed down the memory hole, that's really not a sign of a "sizzling" investigation."

In next week's episode of "As the World Turns," the Super Sekrit Evidence will be revealed!

Bay Area Guy said...

Hey Comey - doncha know me?

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

note = notes

Anonymous said...

"So I ask again: If an investigation is sizzling... an investigation into what??"

Ask the Special Counsel.

Anonymous said...

ARM: You see a special counsel as no big deal. You are largely alone in this. I am sure the lawyers of Trump and his associates do not agree. It is possible that Trump's administration emerges unscathed from this, and that possibility should not be ignored, but history is not in favor of that outcome.

Yes, witch-hunts conducted by partisans or entrenched interests protecting their turf and convinced of their right to rule (come what may), are often successful.

I guess looking down on such banana-republic shenanigans is no longer part of "who we are".

rhhardin said...

News reports (true? who knows) that Trump denies saying he hoped etc and is willing to say it under oath to the super prosecutor.

It seems like a stupid move to me. It's a he-says he-says thing and won't be settled, just investigated, this time with a genuine impeachable offense on the line to encourage gang tackling of Trump.

Trump does fine having said he hoped. No point in trying to jail Comey.

Unless Trump is up to something else.

Original Mike said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

The appointment of a Special Counsel is no big deal, nothing to look at here, please disperse and return to your delusions.


http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/attorney-general-jeff-sessions-suggested-resign-amid-rising/story?id=47875090

"As the White House braces for former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony Thursday, sources tell ABC News the relationship between President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions has become so tense that Sessions at one point recently even suggested he could resign.

The friction between the two men stems from the attorney general's abrupt decision in March to recuse himself from anything related to the Russia investigation -- a decision the president only learned about minutes before Sessions announced it publicly. Multiple sources say the recusal is one of the top disappointments of his presidency so far and one the president has remained fixated on.

Trump’s anger over the recusal has not diminished with time. Two sources close to the president say he has lashed out repeatedly at the attorney general in private meetings, blaming the recusal for the expansion of the Russia investigation, now overseen by Special Counsel and former FBI Director Robert Mueller."

Yancey Ward said...

It it was hilarious comparing that essay's assertions about Comey's sexy masculinity to Laslo's fictional narrative which uses Comey's very own phrases from this week's testimony. Laslo's was a truly masterful takedown of that essay.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Angel-Dyne said...
Yes, witch-hunts conducted by partisans or entrenched interests protecting their turf and convinced of their right to rule (come what may), are often successful.

I guess looking down on such banana-republic shenanigans is no longer part of "who we are".


This is an extreme characterization but I do not disagree with the general sentiment. In an ideal world the system would govern itself without resorting to the threat of legal jeopardy. But, Trump should have understood that this was the likely outcome of his statements and actions. A special counsel was an avoidable not an inevitable outcome of his election.

Original Mike said...

Just saw an ad for CBS This Morning with the tagline, "CBS This Morning. Real News. Because we say it is." (OK, I made the last sentence up).

Michael K said...

Yes, witch-hunts conducted by partisans or entrenched interests protecting their turf and convinced of their right to rule (come what may), are often successful.

Gingrich this morning talked about the partisans that Mueller is hiring for this star chamber operation he is building. I don't know who they are but it sounds like the fix is in.

The Deep State is rallying their forces.

Insty commented this morning.

I mean if this sort of thing is okay, why not refusal to pay taxes, or a Tea Party mob occupying the White House? And that’s just at the top of the slippery slope of “resistance.” At the bottom? Bureaucrats and politicians hanging from lampposts while their families try to evade the mobs. Is this really where you want to go, lefties?

Yes.

Anonymous said...

"Yes, witch-hunts conducted by partisans or entrenched interests protecting their turf and convinced of their right to rule (come what may), are often successful.

I guess looking down on such banana-republic shenanigans is no longer part of "who we are"."

Benghazi! Clinton Private Server!

cubanbob said...

So far the only "crime" I see being investigated is the "crime" of exposing Hillary's actual crimes and the DNC's real collusion with the Clinton campaign against Sanders.

It is time for Sessions to get serious and a special prosecutor to look into the numerous criminal acts of the Obama Administration.

Birkel said...

Again, to all Leftists with little reading comprehension:

The coined phrase "potential checkmate" is idiotic. That phrase is true in every game of chess ever played, BEFORE the pieces have been moved. I have a chess set in my game cabinet that is folded and the pieces are not arrayed in the board. That represents a "potential checkmate".

Coining that phrase is ridiculous. It deserves ridicule.

Anonymous said...

Yes it's ridiculous that certain Rightists think a Special Counsel is weak tea.

Francisco D said...

Inga wrote: "...Two sources close to the president say ..."

Who might those sources be, Inga? The same ones that convinced CNN and the NYT that Comey's testimony would bring about Trump's impeachment?

You need to adjust your tin foil hat.

Wait! That's a bedpan on your head. I hope you cleaned it first. Otherwise, you would be full of ...

Yancey Ward said...

Can you have binoculars in the cells?

Yancey Ward said...

Oops, wrong thread.

Birkel said...

@ Inga, so called

I am criticizing the coinage of a ridiculous phrase "potential checkmate". Please exercise the slightest discretion and stop actively lying.

Francisco D said...

Inga wrote: "A sign for me that the Mueller investigation is sizzling. On Saturday, Sessions abruptly canceled his testimony in front of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees for Tuesday."

Sessions will be testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee. You need to adjust that tinfoil bedpan. Your signs are confused.

Anonymous said...

Firkel,
Ok sure, that makes it all the better.

Yancey Ward said...

When Trump is giving his farewell address in January 2025, Inga will be here posting the latest analysis from Daily Kos about how the dead Robert Mueller's ghost is taking state's evidence from close Trump associates, or the latest NYTimes story about how Ivanka is threatening to resign from the family. It is sad and pathetic.

n.n said...

Comey was a one night stand. Deep Plunger was a disenfranchised Democrat, now deceased.

I wonder what else Water Closet will leak.

sakredkow said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Birkel said...

@ Inga, so called

Given that I have made one consistent, accurate point throughout this thread, I fail to see what might need to be made better. That both you and ARM misconstrued what I actually typed is for you to make better.

Reading comprehension is a useful skill.

Anonymous said...

"Sessions will be testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee. You need to adjust that tinfoil bedpan. Your signs are confused."

From a public Hearing to a private one.

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/337310-leahy-to-sessions-you-cant-run-forever

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has a message for Attorney General Jeff Sessions: "You can't run forever."

"Atty Gen. Sessions provided false testimony in response to questions from me and @SenFranken about his contacts with Russian officials," Leahy tweeted Saturday.

"Now, twice in 2 mos., AG Sessions cancels an Approps hg in which I could Q him about his false testimony and half-hearted Russia recusal," the Democratic senator said in a subsequent tweet.

"My mssg to AttyGen Sessions: Approps & Judiciary have oversight of DOJ. You need to testify before both in public. You can't run forever," Leahy concluded on Sunday.

Birkel said...

Remember, James Comey was quite clear that "The New York Times was wrong in its February 14th reporting.

But here we are four months later and Leftists continue to behave as if the NYT is correct. This time it will be different, said every Leftist ever.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

Francisco D., Inga is making me think of this scene:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlV3oQ3pLA0

Yancey Ward said...

Exiled,

Up to a point it is good comparison to Inga, but the difference is that Inga will never have that heartbreaking moment that Queeg does in that scene- the moment where she realizes how crazy she is and sounds.

Anonymous said...

"The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is expressing concern over recent reports that attorney general Jeff Sessions would be testifying next week in a closed hearing.

"There is absolutely no reason why the hearing room doors should be shut, cameras turned off, and all American citizens left in the dark when Sessions testifies," Christopher Anders, deputy director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office, said in a statement on Sunday.

"Democracy shouldn’t take place behind closed doors. More than 20 million people watched Comey’s testimony last week, and they should not be blocked from participating in democracy this week."

Attorney General Jeff Sessions will testify in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee this week to respond to former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony about him last week.

A Justice Department official told The Washington Post the committee hearing will likely be closed to the public.


Sessions was originally supposed to testify in front of the House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees this week, but said in a statement that he will send a deputy to that hearing instead."

http://thehill.com/homenews/news/337313-aclu-no-reason-for-sessions-to-testify-behind-closed-doors

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

Yancey: True, this the clip that best describes Inga's frame of mind:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nndGGnOFvMk

Francisco D said...

Inga wrote: "Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has a message for Attorney General Jeff Sessions: "You can't run forever."

"leaky Leahy" opposed Reagan's nomination of Jeff Sessions to the federal bench over 30 years ago. Sessions ran for the Senate and won. Leahy was buddy buddy with Sessions then. Check out a photo of Pat draping his arm over Jeff in the Washington Times.

Now Sessions is AG and Leahy is still leaking info from the Senate judiciary Committee.

I don't think Sessions is scared of Leahy.

khesanh0802 said...

The reason Jeff Sessions is testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee.(the same Committee Comey lied to) on Tuesday:

"Some members have publicly stated their intention to focus their questions on issues related to the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, from which I have recused, and for which the deputy attorney general appointed a special counsel, " Sessions wrote.

Sessions had been scheduled to testify Tuesday before the House and Senate subcommittees that oversee his department's budget, but Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will go before them instead, he said Saturday in letters to the chairmen of those subcommittees.
Source - CNN(!)

It may not be the greatest reason in the world, but it is consistent with Sessions' recusal.

Leahy did not squeal like a pig when Comey also refused to testify to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Birkel said...

Leviathan exists. Leftists are explicitly in favor of it.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/leading-liberals-develop-blueprint-to-expand-deep-state-and-undercut-trump/article/2625576

Inga hardest hit.

Yancey Ward said...

I think Inga is more like Peck:

Peck

Francisco D said...

@Yancey Ward

I thought you were referring to Gregory Peck, as in Captain Ahab.

Put a beard on her and they might look like twins.

William said...

I commented earlier that Comey appears biased but honest. I'd like to amend those remarks. I watched some of the news shows today, and Comey's remarks were peppered with a lot of statements that just weren't true. Trump was not the only President he had private meetings with. He had such meetings with Bush. He also wrote contemporaneous memos about meetings with Bush. Perhaps an honest lapse of memory, but it does show how his bias shapes his recollections........There's also the possibility that he's a skillful liar. You can't be too cynical about such things......I read upthread that he's received a lucrative book offer. He will definitely not be the biggest loser coming out of his this investigation. If Chelsea Manning can get a glamour shoot, Comey can become a sex symbol.. More cause for cynicism........Slightly off topic: What does Hillary now think of Comey? Would she have fired him for his handling of her investigation? Does she think that Chelsea chose her name in homage to the moral grandeur of her daughter?

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

"You're assuming the special prosecutor knife only cuts one way."

Exactly. Does anyone really believe the Administration has just sat on it's thumbs the last six months given the wealth of information being in power gives them access to? Bold prediction: By the end of the summer the Democrats will be frantically trying to shut this thing down and the Administration will be the ones insisting it continue.

Other than that, meh, Hillary voters emoting to other Hillary voters. Who cares? Post more kitty photos on Facebook.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

The Isthmus letter reads like an Onion article. Clearly a made up bit of political snark, but amusing nevertheless.

damikesc said...

Jesus, does it all take to get a Progressive woman's legs to open is to attack Trump?

Yancey Ward said...

Francisco,

I did that deliberately- and if you believe that, I have bridge to Long Island to sell you!

MayBee said...

I picture Comey walking around his house, practicing his folksy delivery over and over again.

"Oh, Lordy"
gets cereal bowl out of cupboard
"OOOOh, Lordy"
Gets milk from fridge
"Oh, Lawdy"
pours milk on cereal
"Oh, Looordy"
takes a bite of cereal, confident he's nailed it

Jim at said...

"It is a good thing for you Ted Bundy is no longer alive and roaming the earth. Given your track record, you'd take an immediate shine to him and invite him home for dinner."

You say that like it's a bad thing ...

Matt said...

Further proof that libs are 14 year-old-girls. Embarrassing that we treat them like grown-ups.

tcrosse said...

You can't spell Comey without 'come'.

Rusty said...

damikesc said...
Jesus, does it all take to get a Progressive woman's legs to open is to attack Trump?

But hardly worth the effort. Even if you could find one worth sticking it into there's the post coital conversation to be avoided.

Craig said...

How many Althouse posts have been double colons?

Michael said...

Inga has become something of an Althouse-DrudgeReport cutting and pasting his tits loose.

bgates said...

Wharton transfer student

I'm old enough to remember when it was unthinkable to sneer at a president for having transferred into an Ivy League school.
It was mid-January of the year two thousand seventeen....

Christopher said...

I figured the testimony was a bit of a letdown when I looked at Twitter and most of my feed was jokes about Kurt Eichenwald and tentacles.

rcocean said...

"Leahy did not squeal like a pig when Comey also refused to testify to the Senate Judiciary Committee."

Leahy has tweeted that Sessions "can run but he can't hide"

Leahy always comes off a teenage clown in the body of a 100 year old Senator.

Kinda of like Harry Reid, or Johnny McCain. No class what so ever.

n.n said...

Comey the Concubine? Well, that's liberal.

Kirk Parker said...

readering,

"Meanwhile, Khan tweets a big success. POTUS tells PM the state visit is off."

Given that Britain needs the US a lot more than the US needs Britain, this not NOT a win for Khan, but rather a YUUUGE loss for May. If I were her, I'd be pissed at Khan and doing what I could to destroy him politically.

n.n said...

The baby trial ended with the abortion of a witch/warlock. Now the Choice is to resurrect her/him as a sex symbol. Seems kind of necrophilic. Keep it liberal.

Michael Fitzgerald said...

AReasonableMan said...

"Trump should have understood that this was the likely outcome of his statements and actions"-

Because republican. Anything anyone does or says will be used against you, because republican. Anything you say will mean what your antagonists say it means, because republican. Anything you said ever, in jest or private conversation, will be used against you, because republican.

"A special counsel was an avoidable not an inevitable outcome of his election."-

Sure, except for that whole Head-of-the-FBI-admitting-to-leaks-in-order-to-provoke-a-Special-Counsel thing, and the whole Russians-Hacked-The-Election-!!!! charade that was cooked up by the Clinton campaign, and the Not-My-President democrat party members and their goons and gangs rioting since before the inauguration, and the deep-state Fifth-columnists, traitors, and saboteurs.

Democrats didn't want this. Trump made them.
6/11/17, 9:57 AM

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Michael Fitzgerald said...
Because republican.


Because stoopid.

Michael Fitzgerald said...

AReasonableMan said...
Michael Fitzgerald said...
Because republican.

Because stoopid.

6/12/17, 8:15 AM

Another well-reasoned argument from the progressive democrat party mindset. I'm convinced!